Sensoristasis and imbalance in persons with dementia

Purpose: To present a model of sensoristasis and imbalance for use by healt h care professionals to deliver care to older adults with irreversible deme nting illness. Organizing Constructs: The Sensoriastasis Model shows the need of people wi th dementia to experience a balance between sensory-stimulating and sensory -calming activity. This model builds on Lawton's environmental docility hyp othesis and on Hall and Buckwalter's Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold Model. Methods: The model was derived from empirical evidence, theory, and clinica l experience. Levels of agitation of three acute care patients experiencing sensoristasis and imbalances in sensoristasis indicate tenets of the model . Findings: Older adults with dementia experience intrapsychic discomfort bec ause of imbalances in the pacing of sensory-stimulating or sensory-calming activity. Consequences of intrapsychic discomfort include agitated behavior s and episodic or premature decline in instrumental and social function. Conclusions: Pacing of activity must be guided by interventions that facili tate optimum sensoristasis and often need to be adjusted during stress, env ironmental change, and progression of the illness. Interventions can amelio rate some of the negative consequences of imbalances in sensoristasis when optimal pacing is not attained.